ACT 1

SCENE 1   The three witches, or weird sisters plan to meet Macbeth upon the heath.  This is where the phrase "Fair is foul, and foul is fair." is spoken and forshadows the evil deeds that follow.

SCENE 2  Duncan, the king of Scotland, is greeted by his eldest son, Malcom, and others who have just returned from battle.  They tell of Macbeth and Banquo's herosim in battle and praise Macbeth especially.  Duncan sentances the present Thane of Cawdor to death and gives Macbeth his title.  This new title would be a step above his current title as Thane of Glamis as we see in...

SCENE 3  Macbeth and Banquo are on their way back from battle and are greeted by the weird sisters.  They call Macbeth "Thane of Cawdor" (he doesn't know he got this yet) and "king hereafter."  The witches tell Banquo that he will be the father of kings and then they vanish.  Two nobles, Ross and Angus, arrive to tell Macbeth of his new title just as the witches told him.   Macbeth thinks about killing his friend Banquo so he can be "king hereafter" as the witches said.  This is where we first see Macbeth's easy persuasion into murder-we see his mind struggle come into play.

SCENE 4 Duncan has put the former Thane of Cawdor to death and talks about his misjudgemnt of the Thane's character.  Macbeth & Co. enter and are greeted by a thankful Duncan.   He announces to have his son, Malcolm, secede him as king and then plans a trip to Macbeth's castle, Inverness.  When Macbeth hear's this news he thinks now that he will have to kill Duncan to become king.  Macbeth leaves early to prepare for the king's arrival at his home.

SCENE 5  Lady Macbeth enters reading a letter from Macbeth describing his meeting with the three witches and thier prophecies for him.  She fears that Macbeth is "to full of the milk of human kindness" to actually go through with killing Duncan in order to fufill the witches 2nd prophecy.  A messenger enters and tells Lady Macbeth that the king is coming to visit.  She has one of her famous speeches where she calls on the spirits to "unsex" her-in other words, make her more like a man so she can be cruel enough to kill Duncan.  Macbeth enters and Lady Macbeth tells him just to play innocent and she will take care of the preperations for Duncan's murder.

SCENE 6 Duncan arrives with his entourage and Lady Macbeth greets him as any good hostess would and basically kisses his ass.

SCENE 7  Macbeth begins the scene with long monologue fretting about all the reasons why it is wrong to kill Duncan.  Lady Macbeth enters to get Macbeth for dinner, Duncan has been asking for him.  Macbeth tells her he does not want to murder Duncan.  They fight and she says that he is breaking a promise to her and that she would do it if she had sworn to it like Macbeth. She basically tears him down until he says yes to killing Duncan and they go to dinner.

ACT 2   

SCENE 1  Banquo enters with his son, Fleance.  Macbeth also enters and the two friends talk about the witches.  Banquo is worried because he dreamt about them and thier prophecies for him.  Macbeth lies and says he has forgotten about the witches.   Banquo and his son exit.  Macbeth is left alone and thinks he sees a bloody dagger leading him to Duncan's room.  Lady Macbeth rings a bell to signal that the preperations for the murder are done and Macbeth exits to kill the king.  This is an important scene where we see a more exteme mad Macbeth.

SCENE 2  Lady Macbeth is waiting for Macbeth to return form the murder and talks about how she drugged the servants outside the kings room.  Macbeth enters terrified with the bloody daggers he used to kill Duncan.  He talks about how he thought he heard the two drugged servants talking in thier sleep.  Lady Macbeth tells him to go back and leave the daggers there and cover the servants with blood.  Macbeth can't do it so she goes to do it.  There is a knock at the door of the castle and Lady Macbeth returns.  They quickly exit to make it look as if they have been asleep.

SCENE 3  A drunk Porter goes to answer the front door.  (He is the comedy relief.)  He has a long speech where he pretends to be the gatekeeper in hell.   He lets in Macduff and Lennox and they talk to the Porter.  Then Macbeth enters and the two have come to wake the king and Macduff exits to do so.  Macduff returns and announces the king's murder.  They sound the bell and everyone enters and hears the news.  Macbeth and Lennox go to see the king and find the servants guilty and Macbeth kills them..Macduff begins to question Macbeth as to why he immediatly killed them then todistract him Lady Macbeth cries out faint.  Banquo suspects Macbeth and vows to uncover the truth.  Duncan's sons, Malcolm and Donalbain make plans to flee-Malcom to England and Donalbain to Ireland because they fear for their own lives.

SCENE 4  Ross is talking with an old man about all the odd things that have been going on-like Duncan's horses that began to eat each other, the storming, an eclipse.  Macduff enters and announces that they think Duncan's sons had the servants murder.  He also announces that Macbeth has been chosen as king.  Ross exits to Scone and Macduff to his house in Fife.

ACT 3    

SCENE 1  Banquo suspects that Macbeth killed Duncan to become king.  Macbeth enters and invites Banquo for dinner that night, Banquo accepts and leaves.  Macbeth talks about being scared of Banquo becuase he is supposed to have sons that are kings according to the witches.  He meets with two murderers and tells them to kill Banquo that night before he comes to dinner.  The murderers believe Banquo to be there enemy as Macbeth has told them.

SCENE 2   Macbeth and Lady Macbeth talk about how they are unhappy even though they have what they want.  They talk about thier dinner and having to hide thier mood from their guests. Macbeth talks of his fear of Banquo and his son Fleance who could become king.  He does not tell his wife that he is having Banquo killed.

SCENE 3   The two murderers are met by a third who Macbeth has sent.  They kill Banquo but Fleance escapes.

SCENE 4   Macbeth is at his feast when the murderer enters to tell him of Banquo's death.   He also tells Macbeth that Fleance has escaped.  Macbeth feels "his fit" come on again.  Hs plan would'e been perfect if te could have gotten Fleance too. He plans to meet the murderers the next day.  When he goes back to the dinner table he sees the ghost of Banquo appear before him. He freaks out and Lady Macbeth tries to calm him down. She asks the guests to leave and then puts Macbeth to bed.

SCENE 5   This is the witches scene where Hecate, the head witch, appears.  She scorns the witches for not making her part of the Macbeth thing.  Some people have said that this may not have been written by Shakespeare and may have been added in later.

SCENE 6   Lennox and another Lord are talking about Macbeth's rule as king of Scotland.   Lennox doubts that the murders actually happend the way Macbeth said they did.   The Lord tells Lennox that Malcolm has sent for Macduff from England to help to plan to overthrow Macbeth.

ACT 4    

SCENE 1   Macbeth goes to visit the witches.  He asks the how he can secure his position as king.  The witches conjure up three apparitions.  One is an Armed Head and it is to mean that he needs to beware of Macduff.  The second is a Bloody Child and this one menas that he needs to beware of a man that is not "of a woman born."   The thrid apparition is a child crowned with a tree in his hand which menas he will be king until Birnam Wood has entered Dunsinane Hill.  He asks if Banquo's son will still be king.  The witches tel him not to ask anymore questions but Macbeth insists.   The witches show him eight kings all with Banquo's likeness.  Macbeth is both reassured and disturbed by the witches prophecies.  Lennox enters to tell Macbeth that Macduff has fled to England.  and Macbeth decides to kill Macduff's family left in Scotland.

SCENE 2   Ross goes to visit Lady Macduff and tries to calm her fears about Macduff having to leave for England.  She worries about having no one to protect them while he is gone.   Ross leaves and a Messenger enters to tell Lady Macduff to flee but it is too late.   Macbeth's men come and kill Lady Macduff and her son.

SCENE 3   Macduff arrives in England and Malcom does not trust him at first.  Malcom puts him through a little test to prove his loalty and wins.  Malcom tells Macduff that the king of England, Edward has allowed his troops, and a commander, Siward, to help in overthrowing Macbeth.  Ross enters and tells Macduff that his family is dead.   Macduff is overcome with grief but then vows to take revenge on Macbeth by helping Malcolm. 

ACT 5   

SCENE 1   A woman who attends on Lady Macbeth is worried about her because she has been walking and talking in her sleep.  This is the famous scene in which a mad Lady Macbeth tries to get imaginary blood stains of her hands, "Out damn spot."   Lady Macbeth finishes her ranting and goes to bed.  The doctor thinks she needs "divine" help rather then medical attention.

SCENE 2   A Scottish army meets up with Malcolm, Macduff and the English forces.  They are entering Birnam Wood.   

SCENE 3   Macbeth reassures himself that he has no need to fear because the apparitions said he doesn't have to fear till Birnam Wood enters Dusinane which seems impossible to him.   He still sends Seyton for his army and is determined to fight.  He is more worried about Lady Macbeth because she is going mad.  He gets angry that the doctor cannot cure her. 

SCENE 4   The Scottish and English forces meet up in Birnam Wood and Maclcolm instructs everybody to cut down a piece of foliage to cover up thier immense numbers as they approach Macbeth's castle.

SCENE 5   Macbeth stands confidently to fight against the forces of Malcom.  Lady Macbeth then commits suicide.  A Messenger enters and tells Macbeth  he thinks he saw Birnam Wood moving forward.  He flees from the castle and retreats to field.

SCENE 6   Malcolm has finally arrived at the Dunsinane castle with his army.

SCENE 7   Macbeth encounters Young Siward on the field and kills him.  Macbeth exits and Macduff enters looking for him.  Malcom has taken over the castle and has taken into his army people that have left Macbeth's side. 

SCENE 8    Macduff finds Macbeth and they fight.  Macbeth brags that he doesn't need to fear a man born of a woman but, then Macduff tells him he was ripped from his mother's womb(A cesarean section)  and kills Macbeth.  He beheads him and brings the bloody head to Malcolm the new king of Scotland.